Janice R. Andrews
A missile strike on the Ain al-Assad facility in western Iraq on Monday left many US servicemen injured, further escalating regional tensions already heightened by the expectation of an Iranian reprisal on Israel. The facility, which is home to US troops and members of the coalition led by the US against the Islamic State (ISIS), has been the victim of several attacks, the most recent of which is this one.
Attack Specifics
“There was a suspected rocket attack against US and coalition forces at the base today,” a US defense spokeswoman said. According to preliminary reports, many US servicemen suffered injuries. The representative went on to say that base staff are in the process of assessing the damage caused by the incident, and that additional details would be released as they become available.
Multiple rockets were fired at the base, an Iraqi military source stated, with some falling inside and another hitting a nearby town without causing any damage. At least two rockets were fired at the base, according to a commander in an armed organization that supports Iran. The commander did not identify the attacker. The assault was confirmed to have occurred by a security source as well as a source within the group.
American Leadership’s Reaction
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly received briefings on the attack, according to the White House. “They talked about the actions we are doing to protect our personnel and defend our forces in the way and location of our choosing,” the statement read.
Historical Attacks and Tensions in the Region
This most recent missile attack coincides with growing concerns of an Iranian strike on Israel in response for the recent Israeli-attributed attacks that killed senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures. A number of tit-for-tat assaults have been sparked by the fatalities, heightening fears of a wider regional conflict resulting from the ongoing Gaza war.
The almost 10-month confrontation involves the Houthis of Yemen and Iraqi militants that make up the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance” against Israel. The rocket attack on Monday came after the US struck fighters last week who were trying to launch drones that were thought to pose a danger to US and coalition soldiers. Four people were reportedly killed in the hit, according to Iraqi officials. This is the first American offensive in the country since February.
Attack Frequency
The US forces stationed in Syria and Iraq had not been attacked since April before the most recent strikes. However, US and coalition forces were targeted more than 175 times in the first few months of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Citing sympathy with the Palestinians in Gaza, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of pro-Iranian militias, claimed responsibility for most of these attacks.
Three US troops were killed in a drone strike at a facility in Jordan in January, which was attributed to these organizations. US military responded by carrying out several attacks in Iraq and Syria against fighters supported by Tehran.
International Relations
By holding talks with Washington over the future of the US-led coalition’s role in Iraq, the Iraqi government has been actively attempting to reduce tensions. Groups with Iranian support have been calling for the US to remove its troops. There are now about 2,500 US military personnel in Syria and 900 in Iraq.
Final Thoughts
The rocket strike on the Ain al-Assad facility highlights the unstable security environment in the area and the ongoing dangers that coalition and US personnel must contend with. The event is expected to worsen ties and add to the current instability in the region as the US evaluates the damage and plans its reaction.
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